Cardiac monitor funding revived

Sunday

HORNELL — Life-saving equipment located in the back of Hornell Ambulances is now reaching the end of its useful life.

The Ambulance Service has grown over time, especially the advanced life support aspect of operations, a service other areas ambulance corps cannot offer.

Demand has increased for these services lately, as hospital transfers requiring a medic monitoring vital signs in the back of an ambulance increase. However, aging cardiac monitors could make delivering those series more difficult.

"We got the best of the best that we could buy for our money at the time," Hornell Fire Captain Frank Brzozowski said of the 17-year-old monitors during a city board of public safety meeting on Friday.

At the time, grants and city funds supported the purchase. Each unit costs $30,000 to $35,000 each.

Keeping the old units in service is beginning to demand a time consuming maintenance effort.

"They're 17 years old now, and we've been fortunate to keep them put together, but they're starting to show their age," Brzozowski said.

For the last two years, the department has solicited funding sources, with the knowledge that city budgets would have little to give in the coming years.

"The day-to-day operations chews up a lot of the budget, so when there's an expense like this, it's like 'Where's the money going to come from?'" Brzozowski relayed to the board.

Of the private foundations and professional associations they approached with proposals, a local partner delivered.

The Bethesda Foundation, who has helped the department in the past, granted the purchase of one of the two monitors requested.

Dating back to 1986, the foundation is a non-profit charitable organization supporting health-related projects and scholarships in the Hornell area. Over the years, it has awarded more than $2.3 million to fulfill community health needs.

On Dec. 5, the department received a letter notifying them of the award.

"We're very appreciative to the Bethesda Foundation for that," said Fire Chief Dan Smith. "They do help a lot of people. It's a life-saving thing on a daily basis."

The money will become available some time early this year, according to the funding letter.

"That's great!" Mayor John Buckley exclaimed.

The mayor praised the foot-work put in by Capt. Brzozowski over the last two years.

"I appreciate you working on it and getting out ahead of that. It's a big benefit to your department and the city," he said.

However, there are several more units that need to be replaced, and the fire department will continue seeking out private funding sources.

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